UK

Rescue workers call off search for plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson

Emiliano Sala's small passenger plane went missing off the coast of the island of Guernsey. Picture: David Vincent/AP
Emiliano Sala's small passenger plane went missing off the coast of the island of Guernsey. Picture: David Vincent/AP Emiliano Sala's small passenger plane went missing off the coast of the island of Guernsey. Picture: David Vincent/AP

RESCUE workers have called off the search for the missing plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson who have been missing since their plane disappeared from radar over the English Channel on Monday night.

On Thursday afternoon Mike Tidd from Channel Islands Air Search told ITV: "The area has been very well covered, there is absolutely no chance of finding anybody alive now, the only thing that we might be able to do would be to pinpoint where the aircraft went in, but I think the radar trace is going to be the best opportunity of doing that."

In a update posted on Twitter by Guernsey Police, harbour master Captain David Barker said the active search for the missing plane had ended.

He said: "My team have just met to review the search and rescue operation which has been underway since the plane disappeared on Monday night.

"Despite the best efforts of air and search assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, which has covered an area of approximately 1,700 square miles – with a significant amount of this searched more than once – and having examined mobile phone data and satellite imagery, we have been unable to find any trace of the aircraft, the pilot or the passenger.

"There has been over 24 hours of continuous searching, with 80 hours combined flying time across three planes and five helicopters.

"Two lifeboats have also been involved, as well as assistance from various passing ships and fishing boats.

"We reviewed all the information available to us, as well as knowing what emergency equipment was on board, and have taken the difficult decision to end the search.

"The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote.

"Next of kin have been informed of this development, and my thoughts go out to the family of the pilot and passenger at this most difficult of times.

"This has been a very thorough and extensive search, coordinated from the Guernsey-based Joint Emergency Services Control Centre and has seen exemplary co-operation from all countries involved, for which I would like to extend my personal thanks.

"The final aircraft searching for the missing plane and those on board has now landed. Although we are no longer actively searching, the incident remains open and we will be broadcasting to all vessels and aircraft in the area to keep a look out for any trace of the aircraft. This will continue indefinitely."

Harbour master Captain David Barker said Emiliano Sala's family are "not content" with the decision to stop actively searching for those on board the missing aircraft.

But he defended the move, saying he is "absolutely confident" no more could have been done.

"I have taken the decision to terminate our search and that decision has been difficult, as you can imagine, not least because there are a huge number of people both here in the UK and in France who have been involved in the search over the last three days all of whom including myself had hoped for a positive outcome," he said.

"But that's not been the case.

"But more importantly, because I'm well aware that this will be very unwelcome news for the family and friends of the two occupants of the missing aircraft."

Answering a question from the press, he said: ""I understand that Emiliano Sala's family are not content with the decision to stop the search and I fully understand that."

He said he had followed protocols used by the UK Coastguard in coming to the decision, and added: "I'm absolutely confident that we could not have done any more."

Captain Barker said those protocols are "very dependent on the circumstances of an individual case and no two are the same".

He also said that Sala's WhatsApp recordings may be used in investigation into the events, adding that weather may have played a role in the crash and that the plane's last-known point was near a deep underwater valley.

Asked whether the footballer's message may be of use in determining if there was an engine issue, he said: "It's possible. I know that the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are capable of forensically examining the recordings.

"And they will be looking very carefully at the recordings from weather radar and from primary and secondary air traffic control Radars."

Another reporter asked whether the plane may have iced over.

Captain Barker replied: "We know that there was a line of heavy weather in close proximity to where the aircraft was last in contact so that is a possibility, but it's very difficult to determine."

He also said the plane was last known to be near Hurd's Deep, which could make recovery of a wreckage very difficult.

"That's very close to the last known position of the aircraft," he said.

"Hurd's Deep is over a hundred metres in depth and so finding anything in that depth of water is going to be extremely difficult, but we can't say conclusively if the plane is on the seabed that that's where it is."

Captain Barker said he hopes the families of the missing pair find some comfort in the incident remaining open, despite searches ceasing.

"I can't begin to imagine how they must be feeling, but I do understand and I hope they will find some comfort from the fact that we are not closing this incident," Captain Barker said.

"Although we are stopping searching, the incident remains open and we are continuing with our broadcasts to ships and aircraft that are passing through the area and asking them to report anything that may be linked to the missing aircraft."